The 80-year history of the oldest Māori sports organisation in New Zealand is celebrated in MĀORI TENNIS – ACING IT AT 80, screening in Māori Television’s New Zealand Documentary slot, Pakipūmeka Aotearoa, on Wednesday May 2 at 8.30 PM.

Produced by Auckland-based Front of the Box Productions, the one-hour documentary chronicles the history of Māori involvement in tennis with commentary provided by former Māori All Black, historian, academic and tennis enthusiast, Professor Tamati Reedy.

The New Zealand Māori Tennis Association was formally constituted in 1926 by Sir Apirana Ngata. Recorded games and tournaments date back to 1910 with inter-marae and inter-rohe competing for the Turoa Morehu and Marumaru Cups.

Producer-director Erana Keelan says the earliest photograph of Māori playing tennis actually dates back to 1899 and depicts Māori shearers playing on the courts of Elms Hill Station in the Hawkes Bay.

“We’re lucky to have had access to the still photographs collected by the Aotearoa Māori Tennis Association when they were researching the 80-year commemorative book, A History of Māori Tennis, and the photos are beautiful,” Keelan says. “It’s quite amazing to see how much our people embraced this sport.”

The documentary is also a celebration of Māori achievement in tennis and includes an interview with the first Māori and first New Zealand woman to make it to Wimbledon, Ruia Morrison-Davy.

It also looks at what Māori need to do to nurture more players like Morrison-Davy, by talking to those who have competed on the professional circuit overseas such as Rewa Hudson.

The support of Dick and Desrae Garrett – “the glue that keeps Māori Tennis running and growing” – in producing the documentary has been invaluable, Keelan says.

“There’s something for everyone. The old photographs and period music take viewers on a wonderful trip down memory lane. The highlight for most will be watching out for shots of their grandparents or great-grandparents, aunts and uncles.”

MĀORI TENNIS – ACING IT AT 80 screens in Māori Television’s New Zealand Documentary slot, Pakipūmeka Aotearoa, on Wednesday May 2 at 8.30 PM.